Automatic switch.



E. B. CLEMENT. AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED O0T-.26,1907. Q29 59() Patented June 18, 1912.

5 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Wi tn no .E. E. CLEMENT. AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

nrmouion rum) 0013.26, 1907. I 13 029 590. Patented June 18, 1912 5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

witness B. E. CLEMENT. AUTOMATIC SWITOE. I APPLICATION FILED 00T.Z'B,.1907. 1,029,590, Patented June 18, 1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E. E. CLEMENT. 7 AUTOMATIC SWITCH. APPLICATION nun oc'r.zs,1e07.

1,029,590; Patented June 1"8, 1912;

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Svwudoz E, E. CLEMENT. AUTOMATIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED 00T.26, 1907.

Patented June 18,1912.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

5] noen l'o'c To all whom it may concern:

EDWARD E. CLEMENT, OF WASHINGTON, DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA.

AUTOMATIC sw'rrcn.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 18,1912.

Application med Marat i901. Sean masses;

Beitknown that I, Enwaan E. CLEMENT,"

' a citizen of the United-States, residing at \Vashington, inthe District of Columbia,

vice.

have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Switches, ofwhich the following is a specification, reference being bad therein to the accompanying drawing. I

My invention relates to automatic switches and more particularly to those switches which are used in effecting connection of the talking circuits in telephone exchange systems. Switches of this type are generally. operated by means of electrical impulses sent from thesubscribefls station, as in the full automatic systems, or by means of a sending device manipulated by'an opf switch is denoted in general by the numeral erator, as in the semi-automaticsystems,

An object of myinvcntion is to provide .a switch in which the working parts are closely assembled on a light supporting frame and in which the contact banks are also within said frame, thus providinga compact and self-contained structure.

A further objectof my invention isto' pro'videa switch which does away with the necessity for associated side switches for controlling the actuating magnets. the latter. being controlled by ordinary relays separate from the switching device.

A furtherobjectof my invention'is to pro vide .means for effectively retaining the switch parts in their shifted position and for restoring thein to their normal position. This I accomplish through the medium of a retainingdog which works in conjunction with a. stationary stopmember.

A further object of my invention isto provide a switch structure in which certain of the moving parts are less liable to damage since they are not projected beyond the frame in their shifted positions.- To this end I have provided a sleeve, capable of longitudinal movement along. a shaft,- the latter being stationary and the former designed to carry wipers for engagement with the. contacts in the contact banks.

Other objects and advantages will appear in the detailed description of the de- My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in wliich Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved switch: Fig. 1 is a fragmentary detail view showing the vertical pawl and guiding means. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the switch; Fig. 3 is a sectional view through the main shaft along the line A.\ of Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a sectional View of the shaft along. theline B B of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the retaining pawl; Fig. 6 is a side view of a modified=form of switch; Fig. 7 is a detail viewof a connector terminal: Fig. 8 is a view showing another modification of the switch ;',Fig. 9 is a plan viewv of the form shown in Fig. 6; Fig. 10 is a plan view ot'the form shown in Fig. 8.

l-eferring to Fig. 1, the frame of the 1, audit consists of a fiat bar of steel or iron bent intoa U shaped form and having "which is perforated to receive a cotter pin 5. In assembling the parts the spindle is passed through registering openings in the parallel sides of. the frame and is secured to the latter by meansof the cotter pin, al-

though obviously other equally 'eliicient .means might be employed for securing the spindle. The spindle is provided with a V-shaped slot 3, thereby providing edges 3 which serve to cut or scrape the dust from the bearing surfaces and permit it to fall free from the shaft. 4

On the shaft 3 is disposed a metallic sleeve 6 having a. reduced lower end 7 and connected with an upper sleeve 8 by means of a cylindrical member interposed between the two, the'whole cbnstituting a single sleeve having a bore somewhat larger than the diameter of the shaft except at the ends where the bore is reduced. This construction provides end bearings for the-sleeve and considerably reduces the friction between the latter and the spindle alon which the sleeve is adapted t'o'slide. It a so prevents binding due to any slight springing of the shaft.

' spring'14, one end of which is secured to the sleeve and the other to the side of the casing itself. A stud .or stop 15 is secured in the wall of the casing and a small stop 16, located at a slight distance above the casing, is carried by, the sleeve 6.

Firmly secured to the upper and lower reduced endsS and 7 respectively of the sleeve are insulating spools 17 and 17. The 0pposite surfaces of both of these spools are slotted to provide parallel sides to which the wipers 19 and 20 are fastened by means of the screws 21.. These wipers are adapted to. effect electrical connection with the rowsof contacts in the contact banks in a manner hereinafter described. In order to prevent the wipers from coming in contact with each other an insulating stud 18 is provided as is shown in Fig. 2.

Secured to the outwardly turned flanges 2 of the U-shaped frame, by means of the screws 22 and 22, are the transverse -L- shaped members 23 and 24, connected by the bolts 25 and 26. These boltshave reduced ends adapted to pass through openings in the members 23 and 24. The nuts, 27 and 28, securely clamp the banks of assembled contacts between the members'23 and 24 and the shoulders on the shafts 25 and 26.

Two contact banks are shown in the drawing, although obviously more might be provided. Each contact bank comprises two arc-shapedretaining plates, 29 and 30, be-

tween which are held the contact pieces 31, the latter being arranged in vertical rows. The rows are grouped in pairs, those of each pair being parallel and arranged approximately on a radial line, with the axis of the spindle as a common center. The contacts also form a series of horizontal rows as may be readily seen from the figures, belng spaced apart'from one another both horizpntally and vertically by suitable insulating material 32. The assembled contact springs, together with clamped as before stated between the retaining plates 29 and 30 by means of the bolts 33. The individual contact members are composed of fiat pieces of metal, each row of contacts being arranged with the flat sides of the contacts in a common, vertical, radial plane.

the insulation, are firmly In'the switch herei'ndescribed the upper bank is provided with talking contacts and wipers, being designed to eflect a double connectionwhile the lower bank has contacts for testing purposes only. The arrangement of the contacts with their flat sides in vertical planes instead of horizontal planes eliminates all chance of the contacts becoming clogged up by accumulations of dust'or dirt, the vertical reciprocatory movementof thejfwipers further. serving to efiectually remo'vexwhatever dust'adheres to the sides of the contacts.

Secured to the plate 29 of the lower bank of contacts by means of the screws 34 is the spring contact 35 together with its upper and lower anvils' 36 and 37 respectively, these springs being spaced apart and being supported by the insulating material 370. On the outer end of the spring contact 35 is an insulating stud 38 adapted to be engaged by the lower ratchet wheel 10 when the latter is in its normal position.

Secured to the upper part of theframe 1 is the transverse member 39 the latter forming part of the metallic circuit for the magnetic flux of two depending magnets 40 and 41. The cores of the magnets 40 and 41 are tapped at one end toreeeive the screws 42 which pass through threaded bushings 43 adapted to engage similar threads in openings in the transverse member 39. This construction permits a vertical adjustment of the magnets. The armature of these magnets consists of a bar of soft iron 44 pivoted at 45 to the arms of'ittlie U-shaped member 46 which is secured to the frame 1. A spring 47 is fastened to the under side of the armature 44, is then bent upwardly and passes between the arms 46 into engagement with a screw 48 carried by the frame 1 and designed to regulate the tension of the while a regulating screw 54, also carried by the armature and adapted to engage the lug 53, servesas an adjustable stop for the pawl.

The magnets 40 and 41, the armature 44 together with its associated pawl and springs constitute means by which the sleeve 6 may be raised vertically, each actuation of the magnets attracting the armature which forces the pawl. into engagement with the cylindrical rack and raises the latter one step. On the retraction of the armature the sleeve would drop were it not for the dog 55,

- a part of said frame. .The member 58 is perforated spring niember fi t carried by a screw that holds the magnet and the member a with the eittension G2 on the lower arm of 4 5. This dog is pivoted'on a shaft56 which a vertical bar 58, the latter being firmly seits extremity, thereby providing a shoulder .held, the beveled edge. of the latter permitof the magnet andis attracted toward the a detailed view of which is -shown in Fig.

is carried by laterally projecting arms 5-7 on cured to the frame I and. constituting in fact provided with a rectangular opening through which the pawl 52 is adapted to pass, being guided by the lower edge of said openin in its movements toward and from the rac The dog 55 is rovided with an upper arm 59 bent laterall y at its end and having a reduced, beveled extension 60 at 60. The oppositely extending lower arm 61has a reduced end 62. The dog 55 is normally held in engagement with the upper ratchet wheel 9 by means of a spring (33. A

pivoted bar 64 is ada ted to engage the dog 1n a manner hereinater described. At the. firstupward movementofthe sleeve, the arm 59 leaves the upper ratchet wheel 9 and the sleeve is thereafter kept from rotation by means .of the knife'edge 65 on a vertically disposed bar 66 which is firmly secured to the bar 58, the said knife edge ent'ering the space between two adjacent teeth of the lower ratchet wheel 10, as the dog 55 leaves the upper ratchet wheel 9, thereby preventing the rotationof the sleeve. The shoulder 60 on the arm 59: serves as a stop for the dmvnwardly inclined teeth of the cylindrical rack 11. against which the dog is.

ting a free upward movement of the rack.

The release magnet 67 is secured to the frame 1, a metallic member 68, provided with integral cars (39 bent laterally at one end thereof, being firmly clamped between the frame 1 and said magnet and serving as .part of the magnetic circuit of the latter.- Secured to the opposite end of the pole piece of the magnet 67 is a rectangular extension 70. The bar 64 which is pivoted at 71 between the two ears 69 serves as the armature rectangular extension 70 when the magnet is energized. A spring 72 provided with a. slot 73 is secured to the frame by the same,

68. This spring is bent laterally and is held adapted to pass freely into 'the slot 73. Vhen the release magnet is energized the armature 34 is attracted, the perforation in. the spring 64 is broughtinto registration the dog 55, the spring slipping overthe extended part 62. When the magnet is deenergized the armature 64 is retracted by means of the spring 72 thereby pulling the dog out of engagement with the circular dog 55 is held by the spring away from the rack until released through the action of the rotary magnets described herein.

The rotary magnets 75 and 76 are secured to the frame in a similar mannerdescribed in connection with the vertical magnets 40' and 41. The armature 77 of the rotary magnets is pivoted between the arms of a U- shaped supporting member 78, the latter being secured to the lower arm of the frame 1 by means of the serew'79. The motion of this armature is limited. as in the caseof the armature offthewcrtical magnet, by a similar adjustable stop 77. A flat spring 80'is secured to the opposite end of the mag-- net. is bent laterally and fastened to'the armature, serving to retract the latter when the magnet is de'e nergized. An upwardly inclined arm81 is secured to the armature 7 7, said arm being bent laterally at itsupper end to-form ahorizontalextension. A pawl 82 is pivotally secured on said exten: sion by means of a pivot screw 83 and is adapted to be held normally in engagement with the lower ratchet 10 by means of a spring 84, having one end attached to the pawl on one side of said pivot and the other to a pin 85. carried by the upwardly inclined arm 81. On the energization of the rotary I magnet. the armature, through the medium of the pawl and ratchet wheehrotates the sleeve one step, as may be clearly seen from Fig. 2.

The operation of the device may readily understood from the above description ofthe parts. As has been stated the device is designed to-be used in telephone exchange systems either as a connector switch to conneet with a desired line,.in which case the.

switch is operated'by a predetermined number of.impulses from a sending device or as a selector switch'to be controlled by-relays.

When the switch is to be used as a connector;

the energizing current is generally producedby rounding one side or the other of the line y means of sending devices operated to furnish the desired number of impulses. Suppose for inst ce, 'it is desired to connect the wipers w dth the fifth pair of contacts in the eighth vertical row.. In the normal position of the wipers asjshow'n in Fig. 2 the latter. are free of' the contact banks. Eight electrical impulses are sentto the rotary magnets, each iinpnls causingthearmature to actuate ,the pawl 82 and thereby turn the ratchet wheel 10 through one step against the'tension of the spiral. springlt in the casing 13, and carrying the wipers on the sleeve to the bottom ofthe eighth vertical row. Five impulses are now sent to the vertical magnets which operate in the manner already described td lift the sleeve through five steps thereby bringing the wipers into engagement with the desired contacts. At each operation of the vertical magnets the rack is kept suspended by the dog 55 while the knife edge'65' prevents the sleeve from returning to its original position by its engagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 10 which has passed beyond the control of the pawl 82. It will be noted I extension 62 on the dog 55. On the cessation of the magnetizing current the armature is retracted by the spring 72 and the dog 55 is moved out-of engagement with the.

teeth of the cylindrical rack thereby allowing the sleeve and the wipers to drop. When the lower ratchet wheel 10 is clear of the knife edge the sleeve is returned to its original position by the spring 14. The stop 16 which is carried by the sleeve limits the motion of the latter by its engagement with the bar 58. The stop 15 is in constant engagementwith the bar 58 on the opposite side to prevent any movement of the casing. It will be noted that after the release of the switch thedog 55 is still held out of engageme'nt with the rack by the spring member 64:. The restoration of the dog to the position shown in Fig. 2 is accomplished on the succeeding movement of the armature of the rotary magnets the pivot pin 83 being extended so as to move the spring 64' thereby effecting the disengagement of said spring and the dog.

A modified form of .my switch is shown in Fig. 6. In general the arrangement is the same as that shown in Figsrl'and 2. In Fig. 6 however, in place of the reciprocating sleeve a hollow shaft 3' is provided which is arranged for rotary and vertical movement in bearings in the U-shaped frame 1". Secured to the shaft are the wipers 19 and 20 in the manner clearly indicated in Fig. 9. The cylindrical rack 8' in this instance is secured to the shaft together with a ratchet wheel 10'. The lower end of the shaft is extended and the bottom thereof bears the casing 13' attached thereto and inclosing the spiral spring, t-ached at one end to the-casing and at the other to a sleeve loosely mounted on the shaft and having an arm15 provided with an upturned ear. A downwardly extended rod 100 passes through a perforation in the arm 15' to kee the latter from turning. Secured to the s aft is a stoparm 16.

in Fig. 7.-

not shown, which is at-.

--The rotation of the shaft is effected by means of the rotary magnets 75' and 76 in a similar manner to that described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 and the vertical movement of the shaft is effected likewise by the magnets 10 and 11-. In place of the dog 55 I may use a dog 55 of a U-shaped form, the lower arm serving to engage the teeth of the ratchet 10'. to prevent a backward movement of the shaft, and the upper arm serving to keep the shaft suspended as it is stepped up. The release of the dog 55 is accomplished in a similar manner as that heretofore described. As in the preceding figures when the releasemagnet 67 is actuated and the dog 55 is withdrawn from engagement with the teeth of the cylindrical rack, the shaft 3' together with the wipers first descends until the ratchet wheel 10 has cleared the knife edge 65 when the spiral spring in the casing 13 turns the shaft until the stop arm 16 comes in contact with'the upturned ear on the arm 15, this being the normal position of the switch. I have also shown in Fig. 6 certain additional members. Among these may be mentioned the L-shaped bars 101 and 102 which are held'between the arms of the frame 1 and the retaining plates of theupper and lower contact banks -respectively. These bars carry the binding screws to which the connections 103 and'lOL are fastened; The latter are flexible cables composed of a plurality of wires provided with U-shaped tera detailed'view of which is shown minals,

Thelower cable 104.- forms an electrical connection between the wipers 20' and 19' and the binding screws on the lower supporting bar 102, the-cable being passed through the hollow shaft and the individual wires passing through openings in the latter and being secured to ears on the wipers, I have also shown in this modification means for holding the cable containing the wires leading "to the magnets, these means comprising the loops fastenedto the frame 1 and insulating bushings 106. Instead of the flat springs 47 and 80 which respectively make use of the spiral springs 47' and 80 y as clearly shown in Fig. 6.

Fig. 8 shows another modification of my shaft 3 carries an "elongatedratchet wheel 10". The dog 55 prevents the shaft from dropping by-the engagement of the upper U-shaped arm with the teeth of the cylindrical rackand italso prevents theshaft.

from returning to its original position after it has been rotated against the tensiiin of the spring. The ratchet wheel 10 con- 'hold the armatures of thevertical and ro- .tary magnets in their retractedpositions I l'ao tinues in engagement with the dog throu h the entire upward movement offthe she the 'knife'edge being omitted. It will be other actuating, magnet for movin wiper vertically into engagement wit and along the selectodrow, meansfor retaining: said wiper in engagement with any desired:

observed that the contacts of the two banks are arranged with their tlatsidcs in horizontal planes instead of vertical planes as may be clearly seen from Figs. 8 and 10. The wipers carried by the shaft 3 are also arranged in a similar manner. In the forms described heretofore, there is first a rotary movement of the shaft to bring thewipers to a desired vertical rowand then a vertical movement of the shaft to bring the wipers proper contact of the horizontal row. i

Having thus described my nvention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. In an automatic switch, a frame, actuating magnets secured thereto, contact banks secured within saidframe having the contacts arranged in parallel vertical rows each row consisting of horizontally opposed parallel vertical contacts, a movable member bearing a wiper, and means for rotating said member with the wiper out of engage: ment with any contact so as to bring said wiper into alinement with the desired row of contacts, together with means thereafter brought into operation to produce vertical linear motion of said member, so as to bring the wiper into engagement with the contacts of the selected row, and by continuing motion along the row. to bring about the engagement of the wiper with any desired contact. Y

2. In a automatic switch, a frame, actuating magnets and contact banks secured within thisframe, the contacts being arranged in vertical parallel rows, a movable member carrying a wiper adapted to be given both horizontal and vertical motion, and when moving vertically to engage With the row contacts in such manner as to prevent further horizontal motion, means controlled by an actuating magnet'for first pro ducing horizontal mot-ion of the wi er to bring it into alinement with any iiiasired row of contacts, means controlled by anthe contact in the row, means for releasing the same, and ineansfor restoring the wiper to its normal mitial or zero position by reversing its previous movements,

3. Inan automatic switch, a frame, actuating magnets and contact banks secured within said frame, the contacts being argagement of the wipers with, the contacts in a vertical row successively. p 4. In an automatic switch, a frame, actuating magnets and contact banks secured within lsald frame, the contacts being arranged in vertical, parallel rows, eachrow consisting of a plurality of pairs, and each air composed of horizontally opposed proecting parallel vertical contacts, a movable member bearing wipers adapted to engage said" contacts, means actuated by certain of said magnets for rotating said movable member, together with its wipers, other means for stepping up said movable member to effect the engagement of said wipers with the contacts 'of a vertical row successively, and means actuated by other magnets for restoring the movable member to its original position, thereby effecting the disengagement'of the wipers and the contacts.

5. In an automatic switch, a frame consisting of a U-shaped bar,- contact banks and actuating magnets secured within the arms of said frame, a spindle connecting the'ends of said bar and having its ends secured thereto, a' movable member bearing wipers mounted on said spindle, and means actuated by said magnets for effecting engagement of thewipers with any deslred contact. i

6. In an automatic switch, a U-shaped frame member, actuating magnets and contact banks secured within the arms of said U-shaped member,a spindle connecting the ends of said member and having its ends secured thereto, a movable sleeve bearing wipers mounted on said spindle, and means actuated by said magnets and engaging said sleeve for eifecting'the engagement of the wi ers with any desired contact.

In an automatic switch, a U-shaped frame member, transverse members secured ,to the arms thereof, retaining bolts having reduced end portions connectlng said transverse-m embers,fland upper'and lower contactbanks secured on said reducedend portions and held by said transversemembers.

8. In an automatic switch, a U-shapedframe member, transverse members secured to the, arms thereof, retainingibolts having reduced shouldered end portions receiving and holding said transverse memberscontact banks carried on saidiretaining bolts,

a movable member bearing wipers mounted in said frame with actuating magnets supported on the frame, and means "actuated by said magnets for effecting engage.

ment of said wipers with any des red contact of the contact banks.

9. In an automatic switch, a U-shaped meansactuated by other of said magnets for effecting the disengagement and the restora-' tion of the wipers to'their normal position.

10. In an automatic switch, a U-shaped frame member, actuating magents, contact banks and a shaft secured between the U- s'haped-arms of said frame, a sleeve loosely mounted on said shaft and capable of longitudinal and rotary motion thereon, wipers secured to said sleeve adapted to engage contacts in said banks, and means actuated by said magnets for effecting the engagement of the wipers with said contacts.

11. In an automatic switch, a Ushaped frame member, actuating magnets, contact banks and a shaft secured-between the arms of said frame, a hollow sleeve having end bearings and capable of longitudinal and rotary movement on said shaft, wipers carried by said sleeve, and means actuated by said magnets for effecting the engagement of the wipers with the-contacts.

12. In an automatic switch, a U-shaped frame member, actuating magnets, contactbanks and a shaft havlng a longitudinal V-shaped slot on one side thereof, all secured within the arms of said frame, a hollow sleeve having end bearings and capable of rotary and longitudinal movement on said shaft, wipers carried by -said sleeve, means actuated by certain magnets for effecting the engagement of the wipers with desired contacts, and means actuated by other magnets for effecting the disengagement of the wipers and their restoration to their normal position.

13. In an automatic switch, a frame, actuating magnets, contact banksand a shaft having a V-shaped slot on one side thereof all secured within said frame, a. hollow sleeve provided with end bearings and adapted for rotary .and longitudinal-movement secured on said shaft, one portion of said sleeve constituting a cylindrical rack, and means actuated by certain magnets for effecting a longitudinal movement of the sleeve through the medium of said cylin: drical rack.

' 14. In an automatic switch, a frame, actuating magnets and a shaft secured to said frame, a hollow sleeve capable of rotary and longitudinal movement disposed on said shaft, one partof said sleeve constitut-in a cylindrical rack and bearing ratchet wheel s at the ends thereof, means actuated by certain of said magnets for engaging one of said ratchet wheels to effect a rotary movement of said sleeve, and means actuated by other of said magnets .for engaging the teeth of said cylindrical rack to effect a longitudinal movement of said sleeve along said shaft.

15. In an automatic switch, a frame, actuating magnets, contact banks and a shaft all secured. within said frame, a hollow sleeve disposed on said shaft and arranged for rotary and longitudinal movement thereon, one portion of said sleeve constituting a cylindrical rack and bearing ratchet wheels at each end thereof, means actuated by certain of said magnets and engaging the lower ratchet wheel for rotating said sleeve against the tension of a spring, means actuated by other of said magnets and engaging said cylindrical rack for stepping up said sleeve longitudinally, and means to engage the lower ratchet wheel to hold the sleeve in its rotated position after the first upward movement thereof.

16. In an automaticswitch, a frame, actuating magnets, contact banks and a shaft secured within said frame, a sleeve arranged for rotary and longitudinal movement on said shaft, a portion of said sleeve constitut-in a cylindrical rack andhaving ratchet wheehs at the ends'thereof, wipers carried by said sleeve, a tension spring for the.

sleeve, means for rotating said sleeve against the tension of the spring, means for stepping up said sleeve for effecting an engagement of the wipers with the contacts, and a knife edge adapted to enter between the teeth of the lower ratchet wheel after the first upward movementof said sleeve to keep said sleeve in its rotated position.

17. In an automatic switch, a frame, actuating magnets, and a shaft secured within .said frame, a sleeve arranged for rotary and position and after the first upward move ment to thereafter retain the sleeve in its upper shifted position.

18. In an automatic switch, a frame, actusting magnets and a shaft secured Within said frame, a sleeve arranged for rotary and longitudinal movement disposed on said shaft, ineuns actuated by the magnets for rotating said sleeve and for stepping up to hold the sleeve in its shifted, upper po- 10 sition.

In testimony whereof I alfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD E. CLEMENT.

Vitnesses PEARL TIIWAITE, E. EDMONSTON, Jr.

Copies of this patent may he obtained for five cents each, by-addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

